David De Gea move from Manchester United to Real Madrid 'imminent' for club record £22m

David De Gea has been Manchester United's best player this season.Getty

David De Gea's move from Manchester United to Real Madrid is "imminent" and expected to be confirmed in the coming days after the Spanish giants reportedly ironed out a €30m (£22m, $33.8m) deal that will make the Spaniard the most expensive goalkeeper in Los Blancos' history.

With De Gea's contract at United ending next summer, the Spanish international has been tipped to move to the Santiago Bernabeu in recent months to become the long-term replacement for club legend Iker Casillas.

Louis van Gaal himself confirmed last season that the 24-year-old keeper faced an uncertain future at Old Trafford even though United have offered him a lucrative new deal to remain in the Premier League – said to be worth around £200,000 a week.

But it is understand that the former Atletico Madrid keeper has rejected any approach from United to commit his long-term future to the club, because he is looking to return to his homeland – where his girlfriend lives.

Speaking recently following a ceremony in Toledo which saw De Gea named an adopted son of Spanish region Castilla-La Mancha, the United player of the year added to the uncertainty by saying: "We'll see what happens with my future. I'm on vacation now."

Spanish newspaper Marca now reports that the transfer soap opera is set to end in the coming days as Los Blancos have already "thrashed out" the principles of the agreement.

According to Marca, Los Blancos are set to pay €25m plus a further €5 million in "easily achievable performance-related add-ons" bringing the total fee to €30m.

"The only thing currently standing between the player and his soon-to-be new club is a final phone call to close the deal, the principles of which have already been thrashed out," Marca added.

Meanwhile, the Spanish publication points out that Real Madrid's new manager Rafa Benitez will then need to make a decision on the future of current number one Casillas and his back-up Keylor Navas.